Psalm 53

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 53

God speaks once, yea, twice, and it were well if man would even then perceive it; God, in this psalm, speaks twice, for this is the same almost verbatim with the fourteenth psalm. The scope of it is to convince us of our sins, to set us a blushing and trembling because of them; and this is what we are with so much difficulty brought to that there is need of line upon line to this purport. The word, as a convincing word, is compared to a hammer, the strokes whereof must be frequently repeated.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 53:1-6

This psalm was opened before, and therefore we shall here only observe, in short, some things concerning sin, in order to the increasing of our sorrow for it and hatred of it. 1. The fact of sin. Isa. that proved? Can the charge be made out? Yes, God is a witness to it, an unexceptionable witness: from the place of his holiness he looks on the children of men, and sees how little good there is among them, Ps. 53:2. All the sinfulness of their hearts and lives in naked and open before him. 2.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 53

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 53 To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, cf15I A Psalm of David. The word "mahalath" is only used here and in Psalm 88:1 . Some, with Aben Ezra, take it to be the first word of a song, to the tune of which this psalm was set; others, with Jarchi, that it is the name of a musical instrument on which it was sung; a hollow instrument; of the same nature with "nehiloth", See Gill on Psalm 5:1 , title. Though it may relate to the argument or subject matter of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 53:1

The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God ,.... The Targum adds, "of whom is revenge"; or there is no God to punish and avenge the wicked; corrupt are they ; the Chaldee paraphrase is, "the wicked have corrupted their ways"; as all flesh had done in the old world, Genesis 6:12 ; and have done abominable iniquity ; iniquity is the abominable thing that God hates, and makes men abominable in his sight; in Psalm 11:1 , it is read, "abominable worlds": the Targum paraphrases... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 53:2

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men ,.... In Psalm 14:2 , it is read, "the Lord" or "Jehovah"; in everything else there is an agreement in this verse; See Gill on Psalm 14:2 ; to see if there were any that did understand ; the Targum is, "that were understanding" in the law; it doubtless means understanding in divine and spiritual things; that did seek God ; the above paraphrase is, "seeking doctrine from before the Lord". read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 53:3

Every one of them is gone back ,.... From God, and the way of his commandments. In Psalm 14:3 , it is, "they are all gone aside"; See Gill on Psalm 14:3 ; they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good , no, not one . What follows in this verse is the same as Psalm 14:3 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 53:4

Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge ?.... In Psalm 14:4 , it is, "have all the workers", &c.; There are none of them but what have, unless given up to judicial blindness, and hardness of heart, to believe a lie, as antichrist and his followers, 2 Thessalonians 2:10 ; See Gill on Psalm 14:4 ; who eat up my people, as they eat bread ; and drink their blood, and are drunken with it, Revelation 17:6 ; they have not called upon God ; but upon their idols, upon the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 53:5

There were they in great, fear, where no fear was ,.... Before; neither of God nor man, nor any dread of punishment, but the utmost security, Revelation 18:7 ; also See Gill on Psalm 14:5 ; for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee ; either against Christ, or against his church and people; who set themselves against the person, office, and grace of Christ, and seek to distress and destroy his interest: "the bones of such God will scatter": that is,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 53:6

O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion !.... Or, "who will give F6 מי יתן "quis dabit", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; out of Zion the salvation of Israel?" The Targum adds, "except the Lord"; and this is a request to him for it: and, as in Psalm 14:7 , it may be a wish for the first coming of Christ, to work out salvation for his people; here it may be expressive of the desire of the church for his coming in a spiritual manner, in the latter day, to take to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 53

The sentiments of atheists and deists, who deny Divine Providence; their character: they are corrupt, foolish, abominable, and cruel, Psalm 53:1-4 ; God fills them with terror, Psalm 53:5 ; reproaches these for their oppression of the poor, Psalm 53:5 . The psalmist prays for the restoration of Israel, Psalm 53:6 . The title, To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, an instructive Psalm of David. The word מחלת machalath , some translate the president; others, the master or leader of... read more

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